Crane



C. M. MACNAMARA CRANE Filed Oct. 29, 1920 QSheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORTTORNEY Ja 13. 1925. I r

C. M. MACNAMARA CRANE Filed Oct. 29, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 R O T N E V mV ATOREY Jan. 13. '1925.

C. M. MAC NAMARA CRANE Filed O ct. 1920 TOR iNVE N 4 S sis-Sheet 5ATTORNEY Jan, 1925.

C. M. MAC NAMARA CRANE Filed O'ct. 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR MQ/WWATORNEY atented Jan. 13, 1925.

CHARLES M. MACNAIEARA, OF BRIDGETON, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

CRANE.

Application filed October 29, 1920. Serial No. 420,336.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES MICHAEL MAONAMARA, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain and Ireland and the Isle of Man, and a resident ofBridgeton, Glasgow, Scotland, have invented new and useful Improvementsin and Relating to Cranes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in and relating to cranesand the like and comprises automatically acting means for tipping thebucket thereof.

According to this invention the bucket is provided with dogs orequivalent looking means, which, when the bucket is being raised preventsame from tipping. Suspended from or secured to the jib of the crane orthe like is a member which, through suitable intermediate means actuatesand disengages said locking means and thereby permits the bucket to tip.

Preferably said member also acts as a guide which ensures that thebucket will turn only in the desired plane.

Under one arrangement the member would comprise what We term a crownpiece which is suspended from the jib of the crane. This crown piecewhen the bucket is raised actuates through suitable links or levers or acombination thereof the said locking means and thus permits the buckettotip.

Under another arrangement, suspended and pivotally secured to the jib isa rigid member having a hooked shaped lower extremity. The said rigidmember is actuated so that when the bucket is raised, the hookedextremity is below the linkwork or the like actuating the locking means.This linkwork, when the bucket is slightly lowered is engaged andthereby raised by said hooked extremity, thus disengaging the lockingmeans and permitting the bucket to tip.

The empty bucket would then be slightly raised, the hook or hooks movedclear of the linkwork or the like and the bucket lowered to be reloaded.

The movement of. said framework may be actuated automatically by theraising and lowering of the jib or moved manually or automatically in amanner hereafter described.

The bucket is preferably so constructed that when full it will tilt whenthe locking means are disengaged and when empty will automatically rightitself. This is accomplished by placing the trunnions or the axis aboutwhich the bucket turns at a level slightly higher than the centre ofgravity of the bucket when empty and shaping the bucket so that it has agreater capacity above said axis than below. By this means the bucketwhen full always tends to tilt but when empty as the trunnions arelocated as aforesaid, it automatically rights itself.

For a complete understanding of this invention reference is had to theaccompanying drawings wherein illustrative but preferred embodiments ofthe invention are disclosed and wherein Figure 1 is a front elevationillustrating a bucket and means of the suspended crown piece type fordisengaging the locking means.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2- but showing the crownpiece and disengaging gear in contact.

Figure 4 is a larger view of the bucket and crown piece, the latterbeing shown partly in section.

Figure 5 is an end view of Figure l, also partly in section.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing the locking mechanism.

Figures 7 to 10 illustrate a bucket and disengaging gear of thesuspended hook type, Figure 7 being an elevation of the bucket andsuspended rigid member the latter being shown in the position it wouldoccupy before being moved below the disengaging gear. Figure 8 is an endView of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a view corresponding to F igure 7 but showing the hookedextremity moved forward.

Figure 10 illustrates a view corresponding to Figure 9 but showing thebucket lowered to actuate the disengaging gear.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of theconstructions therein shown and first to Figures 1 to 6 inclusive A isthe bucket, 13 the supporting frame or handle, 0 the crown piece and Dthe jib of the crane or the like. a are two dogs carried by the frame Band engaging corresponding notches in the lip of the bucket them betweenthe twoc'ro'ssbars (g secured to the "frame ofsaid "ba'rsjisforn'itteiii'n Figure, "for clearness of disclosure.

, "Pinsisecure'd to the inner ends; of'said {links if pass' throughslots h in a plate z secure dto a rod j.

The bucket *is carried by a hook "at the carried by'the usual rope orchain/ passing "over the pulley} at the end of thejib D.

The crown piece C comprises a cylindrical member suspended by two ropesor chains "m ipa'ssi'rig over fthe pulleys '0 alignment with 'thep'ulleyZ. v fi'iitei'ior of'saidcylin'der is a second cylin'der gre f l coatedin the cut preferably as shown inclligures '4 f and 5 so as to form aninclined p'lanefor g'uid- ;'f i ng surface Alternativelylsuch" surface 9may be made integral "wlth the outer cylinder.

I I An angle 7 surro unds the foot of the said f outer c lin'der'andshort guiding links a connect the dogs e to the frame'B.

'The operation of'this arrangement is as follows: H V V The crown'fp'iece 1s l'lISi'. adjusted to the required heigl'it.

1 When the bucket is rai'sedthe torpedo shaped member t enters the crownpiece and the rodj comes ncontactfwlth'the lower face of the angle iron1" andis consequently depressed. T his motion it transfers to" the linksf, whichfturning about their piyots, ra'isethe dogs 6' c'lear' of thenotches and 4.5

thereby permits the bucket to tilt. I

This usually desirable. that the bucket should tilt in a given plane andto ensure the'projecting end of the pin u whlch passes through the endof the torpedo shaped member 25,,and by which the chain or 1fo peisjsec'ured thereto, bears against the guiding surfac 9 "when the bucketis nearly fully raised and is guided into the slot n'at the-endof theguiding surface. :When hesofguided thesaid projecting'en'd turnsthegmember tan'd thereby" also the bucket A horizontal plane to thereqr'iired. tipping position.

"Should'it be required to alter the plane in which the bucket tipplesthis maybeaccomalished by turning the crown piece bodily 'oralternatively the inner' throughthe required angle.

cylinder only 1 If desired in order'topieyentor minimize ii'otches 2any" turning moment b'eii'ig' imparted to the 'disengaged and the bucketallowed to tip,

' 'strikethe sea.

7 The-invention will nowbe describetl with reference to the modificationillustrated in Fi ures 7to'10.

he bucket Ais provided"with the usual frame or'handle 'B 'which' latteris provided withlocking'dogsZ. Said dogs, when the bucket is beingraised, engage corresponding 7 v inthe'lip of the bucket which'istherebyfprevelited fromtipping The dogs are connected to affranie 3which is'preferably shaped as illustrated to follow the :COlllDOHl offthe bucket frame B which latter "acts asafs' upport 'al'idguide.

The bucket is suspended by u a hook 'secured to'j'a c oneit'orpedo' orlike s'hap'edfmem- "ber ewhich in turn is connected"tothe usual ropeor"c'hai'n'5*which 6 of theii .D-

Suspended froma' nd pivotally secured to the jib D is'a .frame 7wvhoselowerend is hooked and wh'iclnas'will' be hereafter expassesover"t-he pulley plained, actuates the frame 3 to disengage t'he'dogs 1.Preferably said hooked extrei'n ty comprises a plate 8 of U'crosssection'a'nd having its sides wedge "shaped to 'formj as shown alsoat g inFigs. 4 and '5,

inclined cam faces as illustrated.

10 is a rope o'r equivalentmeans by which the hooked extremity of theframe is moved towards'the rope5 against the action of a counter poisedweight 9. The operation of this n'iodi'fication is as follows:

The bucket is loaded and raised, being prevented from tipping" by thedogs 1. During this operation the hooked extremity 8 is moved towardsthe rope 5," the latter and the member 4' passing between the two sidesof' the plate 8. This latter actsas'a guide for the upcoming frameB'gwhich bears on the "inc'lined cam faces of the plate 8 and is turnedso asto lie in the required plane. This ensures that the frame 3 'willengage properly with thehooks of plate 8 aiid also that the bucket will'tipple in the desired plane. When the bucket has reached the positionshown igure 9, i. e., when the frame 8 is over the hooks of the-plate8,:it

is then lowered to the positiodshown in Figure 10. This causes the frame3 to come in contact with the hooks andconsequently to be raised. 1 Bythis 'means thexdogs are The empty bucket would then be raised slightlyto clear the hooks, the latter moved clear of the rope and the bucketagain lowered to be reloaded. The movement of the hooked extremity 8 ofthe frame 2' towards and away from the rope may be accomplished invarious ways.

For example, a rope 10 or the like would be secured to an upwardextension of the frame 7 as shown, and the other end thereof to anysuitable part of the crane or winch. In operation under this arrangementthe loaded bucket is first raised as usual and subsequently the jib isalso raised. This latter movement moves the hooks towards the chain 5.To free the bucket from the hooks the former is first raised slightlyand the jib lowered thus permitting the hooks to move clear of the ropeunder the action of the weight 9.

The length of the rope 10 would preferably be such that When the jib israised to the necessary height, the chain 5 is passing between thehooks. Of course instead of the pivoted hooks being brought towards andfreed from the chain by the movement of the jib, this operation may beperformed separately by hand through any suitable means.

The type of bucket used is preferably that which will now be describedwith particular reference to Figure 4.

The trunnions o are so positioned that the axis 00-50 about which thebucket rotates or tips is above the centre of gravity of the bucket whenempty, so that after tipping the bucket rights itself. The capacity ofthe bucket above the line m-w is greater than that below said line, sothat when full the centre of gravity of the bucket and contents is abovethe axis.

Therefore when full the bucket would always tend to tip or rotate aboutits axis.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language to be used in thefollowing claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specificfeatures of the invention herein described and all statements of thescope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said tofall therein.

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a hoistingapparatus, in combina tion, a hoisting bucket, hoisting means for saidbucket, means for holding said bucket in load-carrying position, andmeans dependent upon operation of the hoisting means for automaticallyturning said bucket, so it may be tipped in a desired plane.

2. In a hoisting apparatus, in combina tion, a hoisting bucket, hoistingmeans for said bucket, means for holding said bucket in load-carryingposition, means dependent upon operation of the hoisting means forautomatically moving said bucket so it may be tipped in a desired plane,and means for subsequently releasing said holding means.

3. In a hoisting apparatus, in combination, a hoisting bucket, hoistingmeans for said bucket, mean for holding said bucket in load-carryingposition, means dependent upon operation of the hoisting means forautomatically releasing said holding means, and means for automaticallyturning said bucket so it may be tipped in a desired plane.

i. In a hoisting apparatus, in combination, a hoisting bucket, hoistingmeans for said bucket, means for holding said bucket in load-carryingposition, means dependent upon operation of the hoisting means forautomatically turning said bucket so it may be tipped in a desired planeupon elevation thereof, and means for subsequently automaticallyreleasing said holding means.

5. In a hoisting apparatus, in combination, a hoisting bucket, hoistingmeans for said bucket, means for holding the bucket in load-carryingposition, means dependent upon operation of the hoisting means forautomatically turning said bucket so it may be tipped in a desiredplane, means for automatically releasing said holding means when saidbucket is raised to a. predetermined position and means whereby saidbucket moves automatically to dumping position.

6. In a hoisting apparatus, in combination, a hoisting bucket, hoistingmeans for said bucket, means for holding said bucket in load-carryingposition, means for automatically releasing said holding means at apredetermined point in the travel of the bucket and means operable priorto the release of said holding means for automatically turning saidbucket on a vertical axis.

7. In a hoisting apparatus, in combination, a hoisting bucket, ahoisting rope for said bucket, means for holding said bucket inload-carrying position and means adjacent said rope and adapted tocontact with. said holding means at a predetermined point in theelevation of the bucket for releasing the latter and allowing it to tipto dumping position, and means associated with said releasing means toautomatically swing said bucket on a vertical axis prior to the releaseof said holding means.

8. In a hoisting apparatus, in combination, a jib, a hoisting bucketcarried in suspension by said jib, means for raising and lowering saidbucket, means carried by said jib adapted to automatically align saidall) bucket while thelatter is being raised and automatic means forsubsequently causing said bucket to be dumped.

:In: a hoisting apparatus, in combine tion, a hoisting bucket, hoistingconnections for. said bucket and means co-operating with said-.'connections for automatically positioning. the bucket duringraisingmovement thereof.

10.. In a hoisting apparatus, inicombination, a-hoisting bucket,hoisting connections for said bucket, including a block, a membersupportedadjacent said hoisting connections and adapted 'to co-operatewith said block to swing said bucket into a predetermined dumpingposition.

ll. Inv ahoisting apparatus, in combination, a hoisting bucket, hoistingconnections for said bucket, including a block, a member supportedadjacent said hoisting connections, said block and member havingcomplementary. formations adapted to inferengageas the bucket is raisedto automatically position the latter in dumping position.

12.'In a hoisting-apparatus, in combination, a hoisting bucket, hoistingconnections forsaid'bucket, including a block, a membersupportediadj'acentsazid hoisting connections and a projection and camsurfaceassociated with said" block and member adapted to 'co-operate asthe bucket is raised to automatically position the latter in dumpingposition.

18. In a hoisting apparatus, in combination, a bucket having supportingmeans pivotally connected thereto, means for looking said bucketstationary with respect to said supporting means including memberscarried by said supporting means adapted to engage parts of said bucketand readily disengageable therefrom, links pivotally connected to saidmembers and an actuating trigger loosely connected to said links.

14. In a hoisting apparatus, in'combination, a jib, a bucket, supportingmeans for said bucket carried by said ib and vertically movable withrespect thereto, a guide carried by said jib independently of saidsupporting means and means comprising a tubularmemher having a cam faceadapted to contact with a part of said supporting means thereby torotate said bucket on its-vertical axis into a predetermined positionduring elevation thereof, said face terminating in a slot adapted toregister with'said co-operating part upon subsequent elevation of saidbucket.

15. In a hoisting apparatus, in combination, a hoisting bucket, meansfor locking said bucket in load carrying position, means forautomatically turning said bucket, dependent upon travel thereof, fortipping in a predetermined plane, means for holding said bucket in saidpredetermined plane and means operating subsequently to said holdingmeans forreleasing said locking means.

"16. In a 'hoisting ,apparatus, in combina tion, a hoisti-ngbucket-,means for locking said bucket in loadcarrying position, meansfor automatically "turning said buoket,- dependent upon travelthereof,for tipping in a predetermined plane, meansforholding said bucket :insaid predetermined plane,and means for releasing said locking means,said positioning means,- holdcng means, and'lock- 111g emeansfunctioning sequentially during a hoisting aoperation of said bucket.

17.. In a hoisting apparatus, in combination, auho-istingbucket having anotch,- a suppo-rtingbailiattached to said bucket, and alatchmounted-upon said bail and adapted to. seat in 'sa-id notch -for holdingsaid bucket in load carrying position, said latch having a: bifurcationcooperating with said" bail to transmit locking thrusts thereto "from*the notch ofrihe bucket.

18. In a hoisting .apparatus,.in:combination, a tilting hoisting bucket,asupporting bail attacheditoisaid bucket, latch mounted forbodily'imovement on -said'ibail for holding said bucket "in loadcarrying: position, and automaticnneans operative :upontravel of thebucket to: release tsaid blatch so :as to permit-said:buoket'. to tilt.

19.?Inarsh'oisting apparatus, -in combination, a hoisting bucket,a-isupportingrbail attached tozsaid-bucket, a: bodily movable latch forholding said bucket in load carr ing position, an operating rod carriedb said bail and operatively connected tocsaid latch, and means for'operati g said rodrin different angular positions of said bail.

2O. In a hoisting, pparatus, in combination, a ,hoisting'bucket, asupporting bail attached to said bucket, a rigid bodily movablelatchxmember for holding said bucket in load carrying position andhaving a bifurcation cooperating with .said bail, an operating rodcarried by said'bail'and operatively' connected with said latch, andmeans for automatically operating said rod in clifferentangularpositions of said bail.

' 21. In a hoisting apparatus, in combination, a tilting hoistingbucket, a supporting bail attached to said bucket, a latch'bar mountedfor bodily movement on said bail for holding said. bucket inload-carrying position, said latch bar having a latching terminalfor-simultaneous engagement with said bail and bucket to resist tiltingmovement of the latter'in either direction.

22. In a hoistingcapparatus, in combination, a tilting hoisting bucket,a supporting bail attached to saidbucket, a latch bar mounted for bodilymovement on said bail for holding said bucket in load-carrying position,said latch bar having a latching terminalfor simultaneous engagementwith said bail and'bucket to resist tilting movement of the latter in.either direction, a latch tripping rod carried by said bail, and atripping member for engagement With said rod in different angularpositions of the bail for automatically tripping said latch uponmovement of the bucket.

23. In a hoisting apparatus, in combination, a hoisting bucket, ahoisting mechanism having a single hoisting rope attached to said bucketfor raising and lowering the same, and means dependent upon operation ofsaid hoisting mechanism for automatically turning said bucket so it maybe tipped in a desired plane 24. In a hoisting apparatus, incombination, a hoisting bucket, a hoisting mechanism having a singlehoisting rope attached to said bucket for raising and lowering the same,means dependent upon operation of said hoisting mechanism forautomatically turning said bucket so 1t may be tipped 1n a desiredplane, and means for stopping the bucket in the desired plane andholding it there during dumping of its contents.

25. In a hoisting apparatus, in combination, a hoisting bucket, ahoisting mechanism having a single hoisting rope attached to said bucketfor raising and lowering the same, means dependent upon operation ofsaid hoisting mechanism for automatically turning said bucket so it maybe tipped in a desired plane, said turning means including a cam andcooperating lug, said cam merging into a seat which cooperates With saidlug for stopping said bucket in the desired plane and holding it thereduring dumping of its contents.

CHAS. M. MACNAMARA.

Witnesses:

JOHN SEWART, FREDERICK ALEXANDER WARDLAW,

